WHAT IS CARE MANAGEMENT?
A Care Manager acts as a guide and advocate for families who are caring for older relatives or disabled adults. He or she is typically educated and experienced in any of several fields related to care management, including gerontology, nursing, or social work, with a focus on issues related to aging and elder care.
CARE MANAGERS MAY ASSIST IN:
- Housing – helping families evaluate and select housing options
- Home care services – determining services that are appropriate and assisting to engage and monitor those services
- Medical management – attending doctor appointments, advocating for treatment or medication changes, and if appropriate, monitoring client’s adherence to medical orders
- Communication – keeping family members and professionals informed on status
- Social activities – providing opportunity for client to engage in social, recreational, or cultural activities that enrich the quality of life
- Legal – referring to or consulting with an elder law attorney
- Financial – reviewing or overseeing bill paying or monitoring daily money management
- Safety and security – monitoring client; recommending technologies to add security or safety; observing changes and potential risks of exploitation or abuse
- Long-distance care – coordinating care when families live at a distance; including crisis management
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU NEED A CARE MANAGER?
You may need assistance if:
- The person you are caring for has limited or no family support or family lives at a distance.
- Your family has just become involved and needs direction about available services.
- The person you are caring for has multiple medical issues or dementia.
- The person you are caring for is unable to live safely in his/her current environment.
- Your family is “burned out” or has limited time to deal with your loved ones’ chronic care needs.
- Your family is at odds regarding care decisions or confused about options.
- The person you are caring for is not pleased with current care providers and requires advocacy.
- The person you are caring for is confused about his/her own financial and/or legal situation.
- Your family needs education and/or direction in dealing with behaviors associated with dementia.
Care management is a relatively new profession and is not currently licensed through the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. To learn more, go to AgingLifeCare.org.
Author: Sage Aging ElderCare Guide
Sage Aging ElderCare Guide was created to lead families to good information on senior living and care choices. You will find educational articles, videos, podcasts, worksheets and searchable provider directories on this website to help you make quality decisions. Feel free to contact us at info@ElderCareGuide.com or call us at 863-802-5043 if you need additional assistance.
